Wachusett student remains in critical condition after Holden crash

Alli Knothe TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Published Thursday February 13, 2014 at 8:02 pm

A Wachusett Regional High School senior who was gravely injured in a three-car crash near the school on Wednesday morning remained in critical condition Thursday evening at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, according to a nursing supervisor.

Peter Luro of Princeton, a scientific whiz-kid and golfer at the 2,100-student school, was the only person who required hospitalization after the crash at Princeton Street and Main Street (Route 122A) at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday, police wrote in a statement. No further information was available Thursday as officials continue their investigation.

In May, Mr. Luro won first place in the Massachusetts State Science and Engineering Fair for a project in which he did a study involving fruit flies, UV radiation and antioxidants. He was also awarded a $60,000 scholarship prize.

During a vigil Wednesday, friends said Mr. Luro is a relatively quiet young man with a good sense of humor.

Reached at home during the snow day Thursday, Wachusett principal William Beando said he had not yet been in contact with the parents and did not feel comfortable discussing Mr. Luro without their permission.

He added, however, that Mr. Luro's fellow students are keeping him in their thoughts.

"All the students banded together as one," he said. "That's a tremendous thing for us to see."

The solidarity was apparent to the varsity men's hockey coach, Matt Lane, on Wednesday evening. He said the team had a home game that conflicted with the vigil for Mr. Luro, but the students still honored him.

When he walked into the locker room before the game, Mr. Lane said, "they were already re-taping their sticks" and writing "Pray for Peter" with permanent marker on them. They also organized a moment of silence on the ice before the game began.

Considering that not all of the players knew Mr. Luro, who does not play hockey, he said, "I was touched that the kids did something like that."

Contact Alli Knothe at allison.knothe@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @KnotheA